Text Entry Zones and Jump Points for Controller Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current text input mechanisms for interactive TV and gaming devices, such as joysticks and remote controls, are inefficient and slow due to the need for precise key selection, making rapid and easy text entry challenging, especially when using non-traditional input devices.
Innovation Solution
A rapid text entry system utilizing advanced error-tolerant predictive text algorithms that allow users to input text using directional inputs on a joystick or numeric keypad, with a system of 'jump points' that select adjacent keys, reducing the need for precise key selection and leveraging user familiarity with common keyboard layouts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a virtual keyboard with many keys is used for text input on gaming controllers and remote controls, then the user can access all characters, but the text entry becomes slow and tedious due to the need to select each key individually
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into zones grouped around jump points. Instead of requiring precise selection of individual keys, the input device selects a zone containing multiple adjacent keys. This reduces the number of selection operations needed while maintaining access to all characters through the zone grouping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes zones around jump points before text input begins. When a jump point is selected, the corresponding zone is automatically activated, pre-selecting multiple adjacent keys. This preliminary zone preparation eliminates the need for sequential key-by-key selection and enables faster text entry.
2Productivity
If a reduced number of keys is used to improve input speed, then text entry becomes faster, but the user loses precision and flexibility in character selection
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into zones grouped around jump points. Instead of requiring precise selection of individual keys, the input device selects a zone containing multiple adjacent keys. This reduces the number of selection operations needed while maintaining access to all characters through the zone grouping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by highlighting the selected zone and its associated keys. This feedback mechanism ensures that users can accurately identify and select the intended zone, compensating for the reduced precision inherent in zone-based selection. The highlighted zone clearly indicates which keys are available for selection.
3Ease of operation
If traditional virtual keyboards are used on non-traditional input devices, then the keyboard layout is familiar to users, but the input mechanism remains inefficient and slow
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into zones grouped around jump points. Instead of requiring precise selection of individual keys, the input device selects a zone containing multiple adjacent keys. This reduces the number of selection operations needed while maintaining access to all characters through the zone grouping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes zones around jump points before text input begins. When a jump point is selected, the corresponding zone is automatically activated, pre-selecting multiple adjacent keys. This preliminary zone preparation eliminates the need for sequential key-by-key selection and enables faster text entry.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for text input is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing the letters of a keyboard into a plurality of zones, each zone including one or more letters and designating a jumper key associated with each of the plurality of zones from the letters in each zone. A user indication of a selected jumper key is received, and all of the keys in the zone associated with the selected jumper key are then selected.